Published Jun 4, 11:00am ET by
Demilade Adelekun - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 4, 11:00am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Jun 4, 11:00am ET
Czechia and South Africa meet on matchday 2 of Group A at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with both sides fresh off their opening fixtures against South Korea and Mexico respectively.
Czechia returns to the World Cup stage for the first time since 2006.
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| Czechia | +100 |
| DRAW | +230 |
| South Africa | +300 |
Patrik Schick has 25 goals in 52 appearances for the national side. He arrived at this tournament as one of the Bundesliga's top scorers at Bayer Leverkusen, and he is exactly the kind of striker who saves his best for the big moments. Tomáš Souček runs the midfield the way he has at West Ham for four seasons, physical, late into the box, and a constant threat from set pieces.
Czechia scored seven goals from corners alone during qualifying, more than any European team. Pavel Šulc brings Champions League pedigree from his time at Lyon and Leverkusen. The Czechs haven't been at a World Cup in 20 years. They came here to matter.
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South Africa aren't here to fill out a group. Hugo Broos has drilled a compact, disciplined side that makes teams work for everything. Ronwen Williams anchors the back the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper saved four penalties in a single AFCON shootout in 2023 and has been the difference in tight games before.
Lyle Foster leads the attack and carries 10 international goals, but he missed several clear chances in a 1-1 friendly draw against Panama before the tournament. With 19 of 26 players based in the South African domestic league, the quality drop between the two squads is real. Broos knows his side needs to be near perfect to steal this.
Schick against a defence that hasn't faced this level of forward is the edge. Souček's set-piece threat compounds it. South Africa need Williams to be exceptional and Foster to suddenly find form. That's two things going right at once. Czechia at flat money is too good to pass up.
Pick: Czechia +100.
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Pick
Czechia +100.
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